Forsythia nibbled her lip. “That makes sense.”
“Here you are, Sythia.” Lilac drove up in the buggy, set the brake, and jumped down. “Your chariot awaits.”
“Why, thank you.” Forsythia smiled and accepted Mr. Caldwell’s hand to climb in. She turned back to Lark as she settled. “Go on, walk the rest of the land. But I think this might be the Lord’s provision for us.”
Lark wasn’t entirely sure. Yet as the rest of them walked the remaining section, she began to see a home growing here. A house there—not just the soddy, but a real one with wood planks and glass windows. A barn with animals, a garden, productive fields. A windmill to draw water from the well. More trees. Father, is this the place you’ve prepared for us?
“What do you think?” Mr. Caldwell asked the four sisters once they arrived back at the campsite.
“I like it.” Del jiggled Mikael, who was fussing for his milk. “But you’re the eldest, Clark.” With the doctor nearby, she’d switched back to their ruse.
Sometimes Lark didn’t like being eldest. Too much responsibility. “What do you think, Lilac?”
“It seems to have what we’re looking for.” Lilac bent to hug Robbie and Sofie, who threw themselves at her skirts, squealing as if she’d been gone a week. “Not far from town, good land, water.”
Silence fell, all eyes on Lark. She rubbed her hands together, thinking.
“I did bring the papers, if you decide to sign.” Mr. Caldwell opened his leather satchel.
“Well.” Lark drew a breath. “All right. I suppose we’ll take it.”
Smiles and exclamations bubbled all around. Soon Lark leaned against the attorney’s buggy, signing the documents.
The doctor walked up. “Sounds like congratulations are in order.” He extended a hand to Mr. Caldwell. “Dr. Adam Brownsville. I don’t suppose you know of any other good pieces of land for sale in these parts?”
“Henry P. Caldwell, a pleasure. And I can let you know if I do, though you might look into homesteading as well. Or merely setting up a practice—a doctor, you say?”
“I am, yes.”
“He’s truly been a godsend to us,” Forsythia put in. “And everyone on our wagon train, till they left us behind.”
“Medical men are needed everywhere, that’s certain. Assuredly here in Salton.”
“You have no doctor?” Dr. Brownsville slid his hands in his pockets and cocked his head.
“We had one, a supposed physician at least, but he seemed to rely more on patent medicines than anything else. I never trusted him, nor did many others. He left a couple of months ago in the middle of the night, after a woman he was treating died. He left an office, which is still empty, far as I know.”
“You don’t say.” The doctor ran a hand over his beard. “We should talk further.”
“Glad to. Your presence could be a real uplift to this town. But tonight”—the attorney glanced at the sky—“I need to get home, or my wife will have my head for being late to supper. Especially on a night she’s fixed fried chicken.” He winked. “Pleasure meeting you folks. Young Nielsen, come to my office tomorrow, and we’ll finalize the sale.” He packed the papers, gave one to Lark, and drove off.
The doctor watched him go. “He seems like a good man.”
“Anders trusted him with his life. And with us.”
“A good recommendation.” Dr. Brownsville nodded. “So you took the land?”
“We did.” Lark folded the paper in her hands, still heady with the reality. “Two hundred twenty-five dollars for one hundred sixty acres that includes a one-room sod house and some trees and about five acres worked up, plus a well. We’ll homestead the adjoining section too. We still need to finalize everything with the banker in town.”
The doctor frowned. “One dollar and forty cents per acre. I thought homestead land was only valued at a dollar twenty-five per acre.”
“Mr. Caldwell said it was a fair price due to the improvements.” Of course she’d run the calculations in her head, multiple times. But doubt sank heavy in Lark’s stomach. Had she moved too quickly? Lord, is this what you truly want us to have?
21
Had he made the right choice?
Adam walked alongside Henry Caldwell over the raised wooden sidewalks of Salton. It had seemed obvious at the time, leaving the wagon train. But settling in Nebraska—when he and Jesse had planned for California—was a big change.
But then, it hadn’t been him and Jesse planning for California, not really. It had been him and Elizabeth. And Elizabeth was gone.
“The empty office is across the street beside the general store. The folks who own the store, Mr. and Mrs. Jorgensen, own that building too.” Caldwell waited for a horse and wagon to pass, then led the way across the street, keeping a brisk pace despite his cane and prosthetic leg. Amazing, the mechanical marvels in medicine since the war.
“Do you think they’d be open to selling or renting the space?” Adam paused on the street to examine the simple board front of the building. “Are there rooms behind the office?”
“Above. Let’s see if they can let us in.” Caldwell pushed open the door of the general store with a friendly jangle.
A slender man with a gray mustache looked up from behind the counter. “Mr. Caldwell, good afternoon.”
“How are you, Mr. Jorgensen?”
“Fine, fine, can’t complain. What can I do for you?”
“I’ve got a friend here I think you’ll be glad to meet.” Caldwell turned and extended a hand toward Adam. “Dr. Adam Brownsville. He’s just arrived in the area.”
The warmth in Caldwell’s brown eyes eased Adam’s wondering about this new step. Friend—he liked the sound of that.
“Welcome to you, Doctor.” Mr. Jorgensen shook his hand, his grip welcoming if not strong. “Planning to stay in these parts?”
“He’s interested in your rooms next door, the office Dr. Edson used. Would you let him take a look?”
“Sure, sure.” Mr. Jorgensen nodded and took off his apron. “Certainly would be fine to have
